Scan barcode
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review
4.0
Chance of a Lifetime by Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets is the first novel in the Providence Falls series. This book reminds me of Jude Deveraux’s early novels which I just loved (Wishes, A Knight in Shining Armor, Sweet Liar). I thought the story contained good writing and it moved along at a steady pace. The story has humor, drama, mystery, and, of course, romance. I liked the characters with my favorite being Liam O’Connor. He is a thief, a charmer, and a rogue. I like that Chance of a Lifetime combines the present in Providence Falls with Liam and Cora’s tale from 1844. The parallels between the two time periods was intriguing. And let us not forget the two heavenly judges determined to keep Liam on task. I liked the humor in the story as it added lightness and levity. I enjoyed reading Chance of a Lifetime until I got to the end and realized the story was incomplete. I must now wait for the next installment in the Providence Falls series to find out the identity of the killer (I have an idea and want to see if I am right) and Liam’s fate. Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets combine history, romance, mystery, and heavenly intervention into one engaging tale.
samolineux's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
rmarcin's review
4.0
In the first book of the Providence Falls trilogy, we are introduced to Liam and Cora. Liam and Cora feel in love in 1840s Ireland, but that wasn’t supposed to be Cora’s fate. She was destined to marry Finn, but when handsome Liam appeared, they feel in love. Now in present time, Liam is given a chance by the angels for redemption. He needs to push Cora towards Finn so Liam can be saved from damnation and Cora and Finn can have their destiny.
Today, Cora and Liam are cops/partners and roommates. Cora needs to learn to trust Liam, and when he is a suspect in the murder of the husband of the woman he is having an affair with, can he trust Cora to save him?
Today, Cora and Liam are cops/partners and roommates. Cora needs to learn to trust Liam, and when he is a suspect in the murder of the husband of the woman he is having an affair with, can he trust Cora to save him?
hoadjie's review
5.0
loved this book!!
it sucked me in straight away. I love the two main characters Liam and Cora, they are both well written. and I enjoyed how well the authors matched the past with the present.
can't wait for the next book to come out. I want to know what the angels have planed....
it sucked me in straight away. I love the two main characters Liam and Cora, they are both well written. and I enjoyed how well the authors matched the past with the present.
can't wait for the next book to come out. I want to know what the angels have planed....
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
3.0
First in a different kind of trilogy. I love the premise of this story but nothing gets resolved in this book. I guess you need to keep reading the series and hope for more answers. Was disappointed in that sense but will tune in for the next instalment.
inspiretruth's review against another edition
2.0
Chance of a Lifetime held an intriguing plot, and the prologue piqued my interest; unfortunately, this novel was not one for the ages. First of all, how was it ever going to work that Liam would help Cora fall in love with Finely when he is clearly the love of her life?! Moreover, why does this story have to be stretched into a series?! It could’ve been over by now and possibly ended well. There are too many plot holes and not enough excitement to push this story forward. A devastating reality because, like I wrote, the plot had great potential!
elvenavari's review against another edition
4.0
Review of the audio book, read by Susan Bennett.
I’m gonna be in the minority that really liked this book. The parts that took place in the past felt so much like the Jude Deveraux romances I fell in love with long ago. The parts in the present were, for the most part, cute and fun. I caught myself laughing at one of Liam’s reactions to modern things more than once.
There is so much chemistry between Cora & Liam...I struggle to understand why Finn is her perfect soulmate.
I went into this knowing that it is the first in a series to it doesn’t bother me that not everything got wrapped up nicely at the end. I’ll read the second for sure!
I’m gonna be in the minority that really liked this book. The parts that took place in the past felt so much like the Jude Deveraux romances I fell in love with long ago. The parts in the present were, for the most part, cute and fun. I caught myself laughing at one of Liam’s reactions to modern things more than once.
There is so much chemistry between Cora & Liam...I struggle to understand why Finn is her perfect soulmate.
I went into this knowing that it is the first in a series to it doesn’t bother me that not everything got wrapped up nicely at the end. I’ll read the second for sure!
bookwormbetty's review
5.0
Oh my gosh, this book. Such a fantastic book by two very talent authors. Told in third person, this book has to much to offer the reader. The world in which the authors take you is so rich, the characters leap off the pages. Heartbreaking,poignant and breath taking are all words I would use to describe this book.
The impossibility of these characters being in love brings a whole new meaning to the word, star-crossed.m the beauty in which the words were laid out reminds me again of what a huge fan I am of Jude Deveraux and her words. This was my first introduction to Ms. Sheets, but I will for sure be reading her other works. This book was pure joy to read.
The impossibility of these characters being in love brings a whole new meaning to the word, star-crossed.m the beauty in which the words were laid out reminds me again of what a huge fan I am of Jude Deveraux and her words. This was my first introduction to Ms. Sheets, but I will for sure be reading her other works. This book was pure joy to read.
catreader18's review
4.0
The story opens in 1844, with Liam as a thief. He breaks into his landlord’s house to steal jewels when he runs into Cora, the landlord’s daughter. From there Liam is quickly brought to the decision point with angles deciding if his soul will go to heaven or hell. He’s told he has one chance to get Cora to fall in love with Finn because Cora and Finn have any important part to play in life. Since Liam stole Cora’s heart in 1844 when is was meant for Finn, he has to make it right. If he fails, Cora will continue to die early in her lives and Liam’s soul will go to hell.
I was not sure about this book when I first read the description but I’m so glad I picked it up. I loved the scene with the angels in the beginning! I love the idea that people live again and again. It’s referenced many times in the book how the people in Liam’s current life are the same as in his 1844 life.
Liam gets a chance at life in the present. He is a police officer, which is ironic given he was a thief in 1844. In addition to getting Cora to fall in love with Finn, he has to solve a crime in which he is a suspect. The entire book draws you in.
The only disappointment in the book was the ending. I got to the end and had to check to make sure I had not skipped some of the book because it ended so suddenly. This book is part of a series and I can’t wait to read the next one. I have so many open questions and I wish some of them were cleared up in this book.
I was not sure about this book when I first read the description but I’m so glad I picked it up. I loved the scene with the angels in the beginning! I love the idea that people live again and again. It’s referenced many times in the book how the people in Liam’s current life are the same as in his 1844 life.
Liam gets a chance at life in the present. He is a police officer, which is ironic given he was a thief in 1844. In addition to getting Cora to fall in love with Finn, he has to solve a crime in which he is a suspect. The entire book draws you in.
The only disappointment in the book was the ending. I got to the end and had to check to make sure I had not skipped some of the book because it ended so suddenly. This book is part of a series and I can’t wait to read the next one. I have so many open questions and I wish some of them were cleared up in this book.
shimimire's review
2.0
A decent fluff book, which is what my poor brain needed at the moment, but nothing spectacular with the plot or flow of the book. I mainly found the main characters annoying so I didn’t really care what happened to them.